New Zealand Police open to supporting Cook Islands in combating gang influence

New Zealand Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers, and Cook Islands Police Commissioner, Teokotai Joseph, inspect the Cook Islands Police parade at the Police Headquarters in Avarua on Wednesday. TALAIA MIKA/25061115 The New Zealand Police...

Historic debut, Olympic dreams: Cook Islands represents Oceania on global beach handball stage

The Cook Islands U17 Handball squad departed Rarotonga en route to Hammamet, Tunisia, for their debut appearance at the 2025 IHF U17 Men’s Beach Handball World Championship, set for June 17 - 22, 2025. HANDBALL CIs/25061102 History is in the...

Geospatial training empowers Cook Islands agencies in marine management planning

The Marine Spatial Planning workshop in May brought together participants from key national agencies, including the National Environment Services (NES), Seabed Minerals Authority (SBMA), Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR), Ministry of Transport...

NZ Police Commissioner vows deeper relationship with Cook Islands Police

New Zealand Police Commissioner, Richard Chambers, and Cook Islands Police Commissioner, Teokotai Joseph, inspect the Cook Islands Police parade at the Police Headquarters in Avarua yesterday. TALAIA MIKA/25061115 The New Zealand Police...

Cook Islands under scrutiny as deep-sea mining debate shifts from green transition to militarisation

This week, the Cook Islands came under scrutiny for excluding environmentalist groups from deep-sea mining consultations in Queensland, Australia. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to Pacific nations, but an escalating military buildup...

Stories in every stitch: Pageant honors Cook Islands 'mamas', highlights traditional fashion

Carmena Wong, former Miss Universe-Cook Islands 1983, with 69-year-old Mama Rauti Para 2025, Tuainekore Taripo Kura, top left corner, with 82-year-old Mama Annie Santos, bottom right. Photos courtesy of G. Verspeek Auckland, NZ--She is a beauty...

Cook Islands Police adopt ‘rolling recruitment’ to tackle staffing shortages

Police officers take part in a parade to celebrate Te Tango Tutara O Te Ture/Ministry of Justice 60 years of service celebration on Tuesday. MELINA ETCHES/25060307 Cook Islands Police have moved away from the traditional model of the “wing”...

Autism Cook Islands hosts first Badminton class

Autism Cook Islands students at their first session of badminton for Term 2 AUTISM COOK ISLANDS/25052829 Autism Cook Islands recently conducted their inaugural training session in collaboration with Badminton Cook Islands late last month. The...

Cook Islands shipping registry says no vessels trading Russian petroleum products amidst calls for independent inquiry

Maritime Cook Islands executive director Tony Manarangi. CIYS/25060408 The Cook Islands ship registry no longer has any vessels trading in Russian petroleum products, says its executive director, amidst allegations of registering ‘shadow fleet’...

Pickleball Cook Islands launches membership drive with big growth plans

Pickleball Cook Islands enthusiasts, the Power Puff pickles team of Tiare Kora (left) and Manine Lynch celebrate the Trader Jacks tournament. MELINA ETCHES/25052601 Pickleball Cook Islands (PCI) has officially launched its 2025 membership drive,...

'I will f****n' smash you': Kāinga Ora tenant evicted after threats, knife incident

One of the anti-social behaviour notices did not specify an approximate time of the incident and was dismissed. However, the tribunal considered and accepted Wood had repeatedly breached her obligation not to interfere with the reasonable peace...

Finnish police still suspect Cook Islands flagged vessel of serious crimes

Eagle S, which flies under the flag of the Cook Islands, was seized by Finnish authorities following suspected sabotage of underwater power cables on Christmas Day last year. Photo/AFP/24122907 Finnish authorities say they are still investigating...

Freight hike set to drive up Cook Islands prices

Ruta Mave: What’s in a name: Colonial surnames and Cook Islands identity

Ruta Tangiiau Mave. Photo: CI NEWS Men want to leave something behind, they think having children means leaving a legacy, instead they are often an extension of their ego,” writes Ruta Mave. Your name can live on and mean nothing. Anyone can make...

NMI edges Cook Islands in Oceania badminton championships

The NMI's Lina Tsukagoshi reaches out for the lob return during a women's singles match against the Cook Islands in the VICTOR Oceania Junior Team Championships 2025 at the Ada gym on Sunday. Photo by James F. Sablan Jr. The NMI's Dave Odicta...

‘Wearing my flag on my heart’: Cook Islander championing climate action in Samoa

Cook Islander Ewan Cameron at SPREP headquarters in Apia, Samoa. TALAIA MIKA/25060631 For Cook Islander Ewan Cameron, living and working abroad doesn’t mean losing touch with home – in fact, it’s the opposite. Based in Apia, Samoa, with his...

Mum's prayers help 16yo Fijian weightlifter win 3 gold medals and smash 9 records in Palau

Nehemiah Elder won 3 gold medals in the men’s 88kg category. and set nine records on Friday. 4 July 2025. Photo: Facebook / Team Fiji Sixteen-year-old Fijian weightlifter Nehemiah Elder created history in Palau when he set nine new records on his...

Forecasting hope: Climate action for a more resilient Cook Islands

Amidst the Pacific Ocean lies 15 pristine atolls and islands scattered across approximately two million square kilometres of the sea. GCF/25060501 Cook Islanders have a close connection to their land and feel a sense of stewardship to protect it...

NZ urged to trim government size amid rising spending concerns - Bruce Cotterill

Suddenly, and unusually, there’s been some commentary about the costs of running our Government. Ironically, many of the commentators are those same parties who stood by and watched the last Government run economic riot over the country’s...

Mum's prayers helps 16yo Fijian weightlifter win 3 gold medals and smash 9 records in Palau

Nehemiah Elder won 3 gold medals in the men’s 88kg category. and set nine records on Friday. 4 July 2025. Photo: Facebook / Team Fiji Sixteen-year-old Fijian weightlifter Nehemiah Elder created history in Palau when he set nine new records on his...